Writing My Stories

  

A Quick Start Guide To Writing Your Memoir

I’ve learned that when a person starts thinking about telling their life story, they tend to overthink it. They get caught up in worrying about things such as what others will think and who would publish it. The whole thought process results in paralysis so they can’t even figure out how to get started. But if you do your thinking in a more focused way, and then follow it up with specific actions, you’ll have your completed pages done before you know it! Here’s how to get going.

Who is the Book For?

Before sitting down at your desk, decide who you are writing for. Are you writing for a wider audience (the general public)? Are you writing for your children and grandchildren? Answering this question will take many concerns off your plate from the very beginning. For instance, if you are writing only for family members, your writing style can be more intimate and informal, almost as though you are writing them a letter. You also wouldn’t have to worry about getting an agent or attracting a publishing house because you know you’ll either print the book yourself or have a self-publishing company produce a handful of finished books for you.

If you are writing for a wider audience you will have much more to deliver in terms of story, action and writing style. But let’s keep this on the back burner for now and only think in terms of one thing: you know you have to write well. The rest you can worry about when the book is done.

What Story or Stories Do You Want to Tell?

You don’t have to do the David Copperfield thing and go all the way back to “I am born.” Contrary to popular belief, real life doesn’t always make for interesting writing. So instead of going the James Frey route and embellishing, as he did with “A Million Little Pieces” (and you see where that got him!), focus instead on the great stories that have ha1000ppened to you. I’ve heard from many people who desire to tell the story of their World War II experiences. They can do whole books just on that subject. There’s no need to do more unless you have more to say.

Joan Didion’s recent memoir, “The Year of Magical Thinking”, is all about her grieving after the death of her husband, John Gregory Dunne. It is a beautiful example of what can be done by examining just a small portion of your life. Likewise, Maya Angelou covered her life experiences in more than one book. So you don’t have to write down everything in one place. What story are your burning to tell right now? Start there!

Skip the Writing Part–For Now

This may seem counter-intuitive to your intent to write a book, but if putting down that first word or sentence is too hard, you may find it easier to talk your book out of you first. All you have to do is give yourself a rough outline of what you want to talk about and then speak your stories into a recording device. You probably tell these stories anyway more often than you realize, which is probably why people say, “You should write that down”. This will feel natural for you, especially if you enlist a friend or family member to interview you. That makes it easier than just lecturing into the air, plus the person you choose can help you to dig out certain details that you either have forgotten or just didn’t think to bring out. For instance, a curious interviewer might ask “Who was with you when you stormed that beach in France?” or “What kind of car were you driving when you first saw Mom walking down the street?” or “What were you wearing when you met Martin Luther King Jr.?”

Even Mitch Albom did this. Even though I had read “Tuesdays with Morrie”, it didn’t hit me until I saw the television movie based on the book that he had recorded Morrie during each visit. He didn’t have to work from notes or memory. I’m sure the tone of Morrie’s voice was a constant inspiration for Mr. Albom to keep going and finish the book. I’m sure your family would love to have such a recording of you. The recording could be a gift itself, even if you never turned it into a book. But this is about creating a book so…

Transcribe for an Instant Rough Draft

Have a friend or family member or hire someone to to take the words from your recording and put them on paper. Most transcription services can do this fairly quickly, depending on the length of the work. I use eTranscription Solutions (http://www.etranscriptionsolutions.org) to transcribe my seminars and they are fast and accurate. The beauty of this is that once the transcript is done, you’ll suddenly have a rough draft of your book in your hands. No more blank pages to contend with!

Shape Your Book

Now this part should be really fun. Once you have your rough draft, you can begin to shape your story like an artist with clay. Again, beware the impulse to embellish, but try to give things a beginning, a middle and an end. Keep your audience in mind. Remember, your writing doesn’t have to be fancy. You just want to make sure you’re being compelling, and that you’re getting your message across. If you have any doubt about the way something is written, read it out loud. That way you’ll be able to hear whether a phrase is awkward, if your sentences are too long or if you have fragments instead of complete sentences.

Finish It!

The best way to ensure that you’ll complete your project is to set a deadline for yourself and honor it. Otherwise you may let it linger for months or years, working on it only a little at a time. Maybe you could tie your deadline to a family event such as a holiday or a reunion. Wouldn’t that be the perfect place to present your completed memoir? If you seek to get your book published traditionally instead of doing it yourself, you may not have control over when you’ll have a finished book in your hands, but don’t let that stop you. Go as far as you can and present that work, even if1000it’s a stack of photocopied pages or a box of cassette tapes to your loved ones. They will appreciate the gift–and your effort–for years to come.

© 2006 Sophfronia Scott

By: Sophfronia Scott -

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Author and Writing Coach Sophfronia Scott is “The Book Sistah” TM. Get her FREE REPORT, “The 5 Big Mistakes Most Writers Make When Trying to Get Published” and her FREE online writing and publishing tips at www.TheBookSistah.com

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Teaching Children A Love For Reading

Many decades of research reveal that children develop learning behaviors at a very young age from their exposure to books and other written materials. Parents who read to their children are teaching the rhythm of the language that aids with speech and word recognition, and children that are read to will speak more clearly than their peers of the same age. A love for reading books will begin from the point in time when books are introduced even if the child is an infant. Educators claim that children can even hear music and their mother’s voice in vitro. This explains why a baby will seek his mother’s face immediately after birth because her voice is familiar.

Words on the page are associated with the illustrations in age-appropriate books that are read together with the child. Instead of meaningless letters arranged in a pattern, early word recognition is tied to the pictures on the page. Inserting the child’s name, along with those of their friends and siblings, will draw the child’s interest and make them want to read even more often. When a child hears her own name, she will remember more details from the story.

Choosing one book over another can be an overwhelming task for the young reader. Some children will stay with one story until they can recite it from memory, which becomes a great game with any adult who will listen. Pictures on the page assist with the memory triggers that enhance study habits during school. Parents can shape the child’s interest by reading many other types of materials aloud to the child.

A reading environment in the home is created by following some basic practices that make books available at all times:

• Many books that are appropriate for the child’s age should be kept in a place where they can sit and read without assistance. Wide variety will make reading interesting, so the child grows interested in the new material.

• Daily time to read together will develop interest in very young children. Encourage them to read along and interject words.

• Time in the car can be made to pass more quickly when each child has some fun books to read. When waiting for an appointment, have a book on hand for the adult and the child to read independently.

• Work with the schoolteacher to find good books that will keep each child interested throughout their school years. As they have life experiences, books can enhance their understanding of new topics.

• Young siblings love to spend time with their older brothers and sisters while reading a book together. Both children will learn new words as they explore new books.

When parents embrace a child’s natural curiosity about life, a foundation for reading is built from a very early age. Seeing their parents read, instead of watching television, is a great way to challenge a child to reach for a book as a great way to fill time. Reading and speech are essential for success in life, and mastery-level language skills begin with a love for books.

Submitted by Guest Blogger, Dan Gilbert, on behalf of Primrose Schools. Educational, quality day care services from Primrose are committed to furthering each child’s development and learning, and they encourage all families to read together more often to promote early literacy. Dan has written a number of articles on topics varying from bilingual learning to teaching the importance of volunteering.

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Here are Two Stories BOTH TRUE – and worth reading. They were received in a recent email–not sure of the original author…

  STORY NUMBER  ONE

    Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago.  Capone wasn’t famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.

      Capone had a lawyer nicknamed “Easy Eddie.” He was Capone’s lawyer for a good reason.  Eddie was very good!  In fact, Eddie’s skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.

     To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well.  Not only was the money big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well.  For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day.  The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block.

      Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him. 

      Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly.  Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education. Nothing was withheld.   Price was no object.

      And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong.  Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was.

      Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn’t give his son; he couldn’t pass on a good name or a good example.

      One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done.

      He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al “Scarface” Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some semblance of integrity.  To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great.  So, he testified.

      Within the year, Easy Eddie’s life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street.  But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay.  Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine.

      The poem read:

      “The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour.  Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time.  For the clock may soon be still.” 

STORY NUMBER  TWO

      World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O’Hare.

      He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific.

      One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission.  After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank.

      He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship.

      His flight leader told him to return to the carrier.  Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.

      As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned his blood cold; a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding its way toward the American fleet.

      The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless.  He couldn’t reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet.  Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger.  There was only one thing to do.  He must somehow divert them from the fleet.

      Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes.  Wing-mounted 50 caliber’s blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another.  Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent. 

      Undaunted, he continued the assault.  He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible, rendering them unfit to fly.

      Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.

      Deeply relieved, Butch O’Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier.

      Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return.  The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale.  It showed the extent of Butch’s daring attempt to protect his fleet.  He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft. This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy’s first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Medal of Honor.

      A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29.  His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O’Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.

      So, the next time you find yourself at O’Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch’s memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor.  It’s located between Terminals 1 and 2.

      SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?

      Butch O’Hare was “Easy Eddie’s” son.

For more about my stories go to: www.WritingMyStories.com

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Here is another interesting article I got in an email. I keep looking for more stories for inspiration. When we look around we can see opportunities to help others everywhere. I don’t know the original author and would appreciate any information you may have about it. Write your comments below. MDP

THE OLD MAN!

As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open.

The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away…

I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm, walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too and took a few steps towards him.

I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something. The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade and then turn back to the old man and I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying, “You shouldn’t even be allowed to drive a car at your age.” And then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.

He smiled sheepishly and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood myself and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around I saw a gas station up the road and told the old man that I would be right back… I drove to the station

And went inside and saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them and related the problem the old man had with his car and offered to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him.

For some reason I had gone about two blocks when I pulled over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name………‘Congressional Medal of Honor Society.’

I sat there motionless looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together, because one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage and an honor to have been in his presence.

Remember, OLD men like him gave you FREEDOM for America …Thanks to those who served….& those who supported them.

America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall. If you don’t stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them! Remember, Freedom isn’t Free, thousands have paid the price so you can enjoy what you have today.

www.WritingMyStories.com

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This is taken from an email I got…I’m not sure who the original author was. I believe it is valuable to put on this site. Read it and follow the suggestions. If anyone knows who wrote the original, send us a comment and we will include a credit with the post.

“While we are here, we might as well dance”

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven’t thought about it, don’t have it on their schedule, didn’t know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.

I got to thinking one day about all those people on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I’ve tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn’t suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word ‘refrigeration’ mean nothing to you?

How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched ‘Jeopardy’ on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said , ‘How about going to lunch in a half hour?’ She would gas up and stammer, ‘I can’t. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain’ And my personal favorite: ‘It’s Monday.’ She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!

We’ll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve toilet-trained. We’ll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet. We’ll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of ‘I’m going to,’ ‘I plan on,’ and ‘Someday, when things are settled down a bit.’

When anyone calls my ’seize the moment’ friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you’re ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Roller blades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It’s just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker.. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.
Now..go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to…not something on your SHOULD DO list.. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask “How are you?” Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, ‘We’ll do it tomorrow.’ And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say ‘Hi’?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift….Thrown away… Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over. Show your friends and family how much you care.

“Life may not be the party we hoped for…but while we are here, we might as well dance!”

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Not everyone is cut out to be the writer of novels, with long complex plots and characters that take on lives of their own. But almost any writer can compose a short story. Short story writing is sort of like writing a micro-novel. The writer still needs a plot, a premise and enough words to take the Read the rest of this entry »

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Night Train…

(August, 1968, a Minnesota/San Francisco Story)

Night Train to San Francisco

When I went to San Francisco, I put my leather-bound suitcase under the backseat of where I sat and looked out the side window. I couldn’t afford a berth; it was three times the amount of the economy coach ticket. Read the rest of this entry »

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Learning to write well always begins with action verbs. I start my students out with a series of exercises in which they must write a short sequence of story using only single action verbs.

Most children use unending linking verbs – “he was walking,” instead of “he walked.” This is the difference between Read the rest of this entry »

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Back with more news for you today. It’s amazing how much good information there is on this stuff out there if you know where to look. Three in particular that I found really valuable were…

Learn to Write Children’s Book characters that touch the heart!

Another reason you want to learn to write characters Read the rest of this entry »

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Back with more news for you today. It’s amazing how much good information there is on this stuff out there if you know where to look. Three in particular that I found really valuable were…

Cremain of Boyzone Member Backs London

He also mentioned a children’s story book named The Tree of Seasons which Read the rest of this entry »

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